Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "From Bad Dreams," Donald Justice crafts a vivid portrayal of the liminal state between sleep and wakefulness, set against the backdrop of a Southern household in mid-July. The poem, part of a longer work, explores the disquiet and routine of the servants in the house as they navigate the eerie hours of early morning, juxtaposed with the awakening process of the household members. Through rich imagery and reflective language, Justice delves into themes of memory, duty, and the fragile boundary between dreams and reality.

The poem opens with the servants' perspective, captured in a repetitive, almost mantra-like reflection: "Why do we turn in our beds, / Neither sleeping nor waking?" This repetition underscores their restless state, caught between the comfort of sleep and the demands of waking life. The lack of external disturbances—no thunder, no lightning—suggests that their unease is internal, perhaps rooted in the monotony and confinement of their roles.

The servants’ lives are marked by a sense of duty and inevitability. They acknowledge the regular, almost mechanical nature of their existence: "We have only to wait for daybreak / To restore the fields to their places." This line highlights their dependence on the natural cycle to bring order back to their world, reinforcing the theme of routine. The servants' existence is further emphasized by the line, "We are the servants only, / To whom nothing much ever happens," capturing their resigned acceptance of a life devoid of excitement or significant change.

Amidst their reflections, a poignant moment emerges: "An old man is dying / In another part of the house." The juxtaposition of their routine with the old man's impending death introduces a stark reality that contrasts with their otherwise uneventful lives. Their helplessness in the face of death is palpable: "We can do nothing for him." This reinforces their limited agency and the separation between their servitude and the more significant events happening in the household.

In the second part of the poem, the perspective shifts to a more generalized "Voice," describing the gradual awakening of the sleepers in the house. This awakening is described in delicate, almost tender terms: "Slowly now from their dreams the sleepers awaken. / And as, slowly, they grow aware of the light." The light, initially timid, becomes more assertive, likened to a maternal presence: "It seems to them, half awake as they are, / That someone has left a light on for them, / As a mother might for her children."

Justice captures the transitional state between dreams and wakefulness with precise and evocative imagery: "The retreating tail of the monster winking and flashing." This metaphor of a monster's tail disappearing captures the ephemeral nature of dreams as they slip away upon waking, leaving behind a lingering sense of their presence.

The poem's exploration of light as a comforting, guiding force contrasts with the darkness and discomfort of their dreams: "Even while they were dreaming that they slept / In dark, comfortless rooms like these." The light serves as a bridge between the unsettling dreams and the return to reality, symbolizing hope and a return to normalcy.

"From Bad Dreams" by Donald Justice is a masterful exploration of the interplay between dreams and reality, the mundane and the profound. Through the lens of the servants' reflections and the household's awakening, Justice delves into themes of duty, memory, and the search for meaning in the routines of life. The poem invites readers to contemplate the quiet struggles and moments of clarity that define the human experience, even in the most ordinary settings.

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